Dome light assembly



Jan. 18, 1938. B s FLQR'ADAY 2,106,144

DOME LIGHT ASSEMBLY 1 Filed Aug. 8, 1935 Patented Jan. 18, 1938 UNITED STATES DOME LIGHT ASSEMBLY Burton S. Floraday, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Dura. Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio 4 Application August 8, 1935, Serial No. 35,354

2 Claims.

This invention relates to vehicle lamps, but more particularly to dome light assemblies for vehicles, such as automobiles, and an object is to produce a new and improved structure of this character which is inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assemble and has the new and improved features of construction and arrangement hereinafter described.

The embodiments of the invention are shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a dome-light assembly;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an elevation partly in section of an alternate form in which the rim of the base or housing forms substantially an extension of the lens;

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of another form in which the base is of molded plastic insulating material;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of an assembly in which the switch forms a part of the assembly, the switch lever projecting through an opening in the outer rim; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 66 of Figure 5.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1

3 and 2, the dome light assembly consists of a base or housing Ill, which is preferably a sheet metal stamping and is cup-shaped to receive a bracket consisting of a base I l, which lies flat against the rear wall of the housing to which it is secured by 5 a rivet l2, and a socket portion l3 integral with the base I I and extending outwardly therefrom at an inclined angle. A bulb I4 is adapted to be mounted in the socket portion l3 to be positioned at an acute angle with respect to the rear wall 40 of the housing. A spring contact plate I5 is adapted to engage the rear end of the lamp and is held to a side wall of the housing by a post It, insulating washers I! and I8 insulating this post from the adjacent parts. It will be understood- 45 that post I6 provides a live connection for the lamp [4, the ground connection l9 likewise engaging the side wall of the housing and being connected in the usual manner to the vehicle frame.

50 Extending laterally from the side walls of the housing It] is a flange 20 which terminates in an outwardly extending flange 2| providing the open mouth for the housing. Covering the face or front portion of the housing is a lens 22 of 5 translucent material, but preferably is of molded plastic material, such as Plaskon. The body portion of the lens bows outwardly, as indicated in Fig. 2, so that the lamp bulb I4 is positioned closely to the under side thereof in such manner that the entire lens portion is illuminated and 5 eliminating any shadows or dark spots. Integral with the lens and projecting inwardly therefrom is an annular flange 23, which is adapted to fit over the outside of the outwardly projecting flange 2| of the housing. The flange 23 is relal0 tively thin and since the molded material, such as Plaskon, has a certain amount of resiliency, the lens is securely held in place due to the frictional engagement between the flanges 2i and 23, friction being relied upon solely to retain these parts 15 in assembled relation. To provide a finished appearance for the assembly, a rim 24 provides a continuation of the lens portion 22 and inclines outwardly and inwardly from the flange portion 23, the end portion of the rim curving inwardly 20 in this instance.

An important advantage of the dome light assembly above described resides in the fact that the entire lens portion is illuminated by the lamp l4 and the lens can be attached to the base or 25 housing Ill without the use of screws, bayonet joints, clamping rings or other devices commonly used for these purposes. In this manner, applicant is enabled more readily to mount the lens and this can be effected at a lower cost. By mounting the lamp bulb M in the manner above described the housing or base l0 requires a less amount of metal, since it is considerably shallower than similar housings, so that the cost is likewise reduced in this manner.

In order to enhance the attractive appearance of the assembly, apertures 25 may be formed in the housing flange 2| and apertures 26 in the lens flange 23 in registry with each other to enable some of the light rays to pass therethrough and illuminate portions of the rim 24. The number and arrangement of these apertures may be varied as desired, depending on the desired effect.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the lens 22 is provided with a similar inwardly extending flange 23 engaging on the inside of a housing flange 21 Formed integrally with the lens 22 is a rim or flange portion 21, which projects slightly beyond the flange 2| and over a rim 28. The rim 28 is formed integrally with the housing and extends laterally from the flange 2P The rim 2'! not only covers the connection between the flanges 23 and 2I but also enables a tool to be inserted between the rim 28 and the rim or flange 21 to pry the lens away from the housing.

The frictional engagement between these parts is such that the lens cannot be removed readily and prying action is necessary for this purpose.

In the form shown in Fig. 4, the base or housing ll] is of molded insulating material, such as Plaskon, which eliminates the necessity of using insulating washers between the live post I6 and the ground connection la the latter serving to secure the base ll of the lamp bracket to the housing. It will also be noted that the rear wall of the housing l 0 is inclined thereby to provide a more efficient reflecting surface for the light rays and also. to eiTect a substantial saving in material. In this instance, the lens 22 which is also of molded plastic material, is similar to that shown and described in connection with Figure 2, although the openings in the housing and lens flanges are not shown. These may or may not be used as desired. The housing Ill has a flange 2 I b which engages the flange 23 of the lens, the lens having a rim 24 which parts are similar to those shown in Fig. 2, and wherein it is to be noted that the rim 24* forms a substantial continuation of the front face of the lens.

It will be apparent that the structures above described do not employ a switch formed as a part of the housing, such structures being connected with a pillar or other part of the vehicle. In the form shown on Figs. 5 and 6 an elongate slot 29 is provided in the rim 24 through which extends a switch lever 30. In order to insure that the lens 22 is properly mounted on the housing or base, a groove 3| is formed in the flange 2| to receive a projection 32 formed in the lens flange 23.

It is to be understood that numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and choice of materials may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention, specially as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A dome light assembly comprising a housing having an open outer end provided with an outwardly extending flange, a rim surrounding said flange, a lens of molded plastic material having an inwardly extending flange frictionally engaging said first flange, and a relatively small rim on said lens slightly overlapping said first rim and enabling insertion of a tool to enable said lens tobe pried off.

2. A light assembly comprising a housing element and a lens element, the housing element having a smooth forwardly extending flange, the lens element being of moulded plastic material and having an inwardly extending smooth resilient flange frictionally engaging the flange of the housing so as to form the sole means of connection between said elements, and one of said elements having an integral laterally extending rim forming a substantial continuation of the front face ofthe lens element.

BURTON S. FLORADAY. 

